British and African archaeologists have discovered evidence of the world’s oldest human-built structure, built by an extinct human species half a million years ago. It was discovered in South Africa.
Made of wrought timber, it was likely built as a raised path through the moors – or as a raised platform in the middle of the wetland area, perhaps as part of a fishing base or butchering facility.
It was discovered in waterlogged land in northern Zambia, and is at least twice as old as any other known man-made structure.
This discovery is likely to change archaeologists’ understanding of the development of early human technology and cognitive abilities.
The raised wooden path or platform was just a small part of the prehistoric human presence on the south bank of the Kalambo River. It is found just a few hundred meters from two of the world’s most stunning natural wonders – a 235-metre-high waterfall and a 300-metre-deep canyon.
The waterfalls and unusually diverse local terrain were likely indirectly responsible for attracting hunter-gatherers to the area, including the world’s first construction “engineers” and carpenters.
The 235-metre high Kalambo Falls on the border between Zambia and Tanzania were once part of a fascinating area of prehistoric activity
(Deep Roots of Humanity Research Project and University of Liverpool)
Immediately upstream of the falls is a large, fertile floodplain that would have contained swamps, small lakes, small waterways, and riparian forests in addition to the main river. Forests, along with other tree species, once covered the slopes of the hills adjacent to the floodplains.
But directly downstream, the river flows through an impressive three-mile-long canyon with its own native rainforest, generated in part by the waterfall’s spray. Just three miles away, the river flows into one of Africa’s largest lakes, Lake Tanganyika, which is particularly rich in fish and once attracted large herds of animals.
Each of these environments would have attracted different species of animals, and would have contained different plants, fruits, and nuts, all of which in turn would have attracted early humans.
This 1.4-metre-long wood was crafted and shaped by members of an extinct species of hominid half a million years ago.
(Deep Roots of Humanity Research Project and University of Liverpool)
So far, archaeologists have found two parts of the wooden structure – a 1.4-metre-long section of a tree trunk and a tree trunk, both of which were modified by prehistoric carpenters.
The tree trunk was cut and then shaped so that it was tapered at both ends. A 13cm U-shaped incision was then carved into its side. It was then placed horizontally over the tree trunk which had been carved and shaped to ensure that the 20cm top could fit neatly into the U-shaped notch of the horizontally carved tree trunk.
By placing the modified tree trunk in this way, it was effectively ‘locked’ to the top of the trunk, ensuring that the path or platform remained approximately 20cm above the bog.
It also dates back to approximately half a million years ago, with a large wooden wedge found just meters away. It was probably used to split wood.
A diagram of a piece of wood 1.4 meters long
(Deep Roots of Humanity Research Project and University of Liverpool)
Archaeologists also discovered a variety of cutting, chopping and scraping tools, all made of stone, and a possible cooking stove.
The prehistoric humans who lived there were members of a now extinct species known as Homo heidelbergensis – A species that had already colonized at that time most of Africa, western Asia, and Europe and flourished from 600,000 to 300,000 years ago.
However, about 300 thousand years ago Heidelberg It became extinct – perhaps due to competition from newer, more advanced human species, namely Neanderthals and ourselves (Homo sapiens).
The archaeological investigations have been carried out over the past four years by archaeologists and other scholars based in the UK, Belgium and Zambia – from the Universities of Liverpool, Aberystwyth, Royal Holloway and Liège and from the National Museums Council of Zambia and the country’s National Heritage Conservation Authority. commission.
The scientific journal published an academic report on the project, natureWednesday.
Project director Professor Larry Parham said the discovery will change the way we think about humans
(Deep Roots of Humanity Research Project and University of Liverpool)
Project Director, Professor Larry Parham, from the Department of Archaeology, Classics and Egyptology at the University of Liverpool, is leading the international research project ‘Deep Roots of Humanity’, which includes investigating the Kalambo Falls area. “This discovery helps change the way we think about long-extinct species of humans,” he said.
Specialist dating of the finds was carried out by experts at Aberystwyth University. They used luminescence dating techniques, which reveal the last time minerals in the sand surrounding finds were exposed to sunlight, to determine their age.
“In this great age, dating discoveries is extremely difficult. Fluorescence dating allows us to date much further back, to piece together sites that give us a glimpse into human evolution,” said Professor Geoff Dowler, from Aberystwyth University.
“Devoted student. Bacon advocate. Beer scholar. Troublemaker. Falls down a lot. Typical coffee enthusiast.”